The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-11
LENDING TO THE LORD.
GIVING TO THE POOR MADE SIM
PIE AND UNIVERSAL.
How the Children Can Lead, but Carry
with Them the Sweet Appreciation
and Support OF Parents and Older
and Wiser Heads.

with Them the Sweet Appreciation
and Support of Parents and Older
and Wiser Heads.
The APPEAL is indeed gratiicd TO OBJ
serve the deep interest in and earnest
efforts TO carry out the suggestion made Il
few days ago TO inauguraie organized and
systematic Christmas charities. Such an
appeal always touches the popular sympa-
thies and results in bringing cheer and
comfort TO the deserving poor, AT the
committee meeting in Mr.. Menken's store,
Friday afternoon, plan, which originated
in Portland Me-, in 1882, was discussed,
together with the one prevailing in and
known as the Washington plan. To bring
il prominently before the public for study,
Tnr APPEAL publishes it, 4 general meet
ing for discussion and organization is
called for Tuesday evening at the Young
Mems Christian association, aud il is con-
fdently hoped that the attendance will be-
large and general. The Giomcr, of De-
ccmbcr, 1855, published by the Women's
Christian association printed the plan, and
referred to it in the following terms
1--WE earnestly commend TO the attcn-
ton of sabbath school workers, to parents
and 10 pastors The Childrcn's Christmas
Club. Let some one promptly set the
ball rolling, and our eager Memphis
children will joyously 20 and do likewise
in generous fashion. The leading schools
OF our city have already learned, prac-
tically, that il is more blessed 10 give than
10 receive even at Christmas tide Us Sun
day-schools. OF receiving there is album
dance nj home Special exercises may be
carried out by individual schools, aud then
NIL Join together in one grand icstal
evening OF Christmas giving The Christian
association will engage 10 go out in the
highways and hedges and furnish guests
for such u feast, really needy, deserving
children, who will otherwise have no
Christmas Who will inauguratc such u
movement
The Portland plan was devised by n
wealthy lady OF that city, while sitting in
warm, coy room ON sunday, October
10 1882. While the wind whiNlcd about
the house, mttling the windows and piling
the snow flakes in deep drifts across the
steps and against the fences she was think
ing OF the houses up on the hill, and down
nt Gorham's corner, and IN Salem lane,
which had no steam radiators, no glowing
CRATES, no double windows, 10 keep out
these searching winter winds. She thought,
too, OF the little children in those houses
and, as II WIS December, oi the Joyous day
coming ~ soon the day iurgiying gifts all
the world over and wondered whether in
those houses little bare feet spring out Of
bed, and dance across Ia the chimncys in
the dim dawn of Christmas morning; ii
numD, blue fingers would eagerly snatch
down the shabby, faded stockings, and
find that II. Nicholas had already been
there; II, later ON, fathers aud mothers,
with brothers and sisters, and la.
bics In their high chairs, for
just this one day. would
come gayly around dinncr.tablcs, where
plump Christmas turkeys lay at one end,
plum.puddings were ready Tor the other,
and huge stacks OF oranges, nuts and
apples nusc in the middle; aud IL, In the
evening, there would be- great mysteries
IN the parlon, u fragrance OF spruce, an cX-
citing rustling 81 paper parcels, mothers
slipping slyly In and out Of the doors with
hands hidden behind them, general
scurrying about and then all eyes dazxled
by hundred twinkling candles caught In
the branches Of " graceful tree laden with
toys. she wondered ii Ia those hOus's
would ~ up that Wild shout oi glcc, those
ringing hurrihs aud the JOYOUS clapping Of
hands she had 80 often heard And, MS
she wondered, she shook her head sadly,
saying They have never known these
pleasures, they never will, unless obi
unless somebody remembers them. Why
can't something be- done? | would work,
but one person can 40 ~ little alone. |
want hundred helpers where shall /
find Them
She thought iuicutly ior a few moments,
and then cred. II knowl The children
will do Il, the Portland children those
Who have happy homes and Christmas
tnos, and play.ru0ms full Of TOYS. They
will load Christmas trrc ~ one was never
loaded before; they will spread a Christmas
dinner which cannot bv eaten Ia one day,
they will do 1.-THE warm. hearted, gcncr.
ous Portland children The bells from
all the churches Wcrc ringing for Sunday
school. That was the time that was the
place 90 find the children. \ number oi
notes were written, asking two or more
girls aud boys itom every sunday school
In the city Ia meet az that house at 4
o'clock ON the following Thursday after.
noon. Did they Gomez Come? They
did not know what the call wa.
for, save lot whisper about Christ.
mas work. but they came came IN
pais, in trus. In qunricts and quintcts
whole squad from the Butler school; bil
boys with big hearts, wee tots only foul
years old, from the kindergarten To-
children. pady for anything. 4 lad,
came forward 10 speak To them, and thcil
yoiccr wcw hushcd In expectation. Sh,
tpokc Of their Christmas festivities over,
year OF their ppsonis aud their friends
then of unfortunate childun who hat
lever, some none. oi these Joys. Whcr
she asked. Does any one here want {,
do anything Tor these others the though
that they could do anything was new 3,
almost all NJ many even the wish wa
new but like the groa, hcart-throb cam,
their answer
"lcl II /! II want 10 do some
thing"
"ChildWn, what can YOU do2"
n pause, aud then one little voice cried
olive 'Cm cent?
That was the tint offer. hut II was FOL
lowed by many another GIVE 'ui
mn ~"